Man And Boy

Ερώτησις Θ' Τί δήποτε κομιδῇ νέῳ ὄντι τῷ Σαμουὴλ ὁ τῶν ὅλων ὢφθη Θεός; Εἰς ἔλεγχον τοῦ γεγρηρακότος ἀρχιερέως τὸ μειράκιον ἠξιώθη τῆς θείας ἐπιφανείας. Οὕτω γαρ ἤν ἄγαν νέος, ὡς τὴν περὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ διδασκαλίαν μηδέπω δύνασθαι δέξασθαι. Αὐτικα γοῦν ὁ Ἡλεὶ μετὰ τὴν τρίτην κλῆσιν συνεὶς ὡς ὁ Θεός ἐστιν ὁ καλῶν, περιτὸν μὲν εἰπεῖν, καὶ ὑπέλαβεν ὡς ὁ Θεός ἐστιν ὁ καλῶν· ἔφη δέ· Ἐὰν καλέσῃ σε ὁ καλῶν ἐρεῖς, Λάλει, Κύριέ μου ὅτι ἀκούει ὁ δοῦλος σου. Ἀλλ' ὅμως καὶ τὴν τοιαύτην ἡλικίαν τῆς πολιᾶς προτετίμηκεν ὁ Θεός· καὶ τὸν ὀκτὼ καὶ ἐνενήκοντα ἕτη βεβιωκότα, καὶ τεσσαράκοντα ἕτη ἀρχῆς ἀξιωθέντα διπλῆς, καὶ κριτὴς γὰρ ἦν, καὶ ἀρχιερεὺς καταλιπὼν, τῷ σμικροτάτῳ διειλέχθη παιδίῳ· διδάσκων ὅσῳ πολιᾶς ἀμείνων νεότης ἀρετῇ κοσμουμένη. Ὁ μέντοι Ἡλεὶ δῆλός ἐστιν οἰκείοις μὲν κοσμούμενος κατορθώμασι· διὰ δὲ τὴν τῶν παίδων πονηρίαν τῆς πανωλεθρίας τὴν ψῆφον δεξάμενος. Δηλοῖ δὲ αὐτοῦ τὴν εὐσένειαν καὶ τὰ ῥήματα. Πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ οὐκ ᾐσχύνθη πατακαλέσαι τὸν νέον μηνῦσαι τὰ θεόθεν ἀπαγγελθέντα· ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅρκοις αὐτὸν κατέδησε καὶ ἀραῖς, ὥστε μηδὲν ἀποκρύψαι τῶν δηλωθέντων. Εἶτα τὴν ἐξενεχθεῖσαν ψῆφον μαθὼν, τὴν ἀξιέπαινον ἀφῆκε φωνήν· Κύριος ἐστι, τὸ ἀρεστὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ποιήσει. Καὶ μέντοι καὶ τῶν υἱῶν τὴν σφαγὴν ἐγνωκὼς, οὐκ ἀγεννῶς ἢνεγκεν ὁ πατὴρ καὶ πρεσβύτης· τὴν δέ γε κιβωτὸν δορυάλωτον γεγενῆσθαι μαθὼν, κατέπεσε μὲν ἀπὸ τοῦ δίφρου, τῇ δὲ τῆς ἀθυμίας ὑπερβολῇ τοῦ βίου τὸ τέλος ἐδέξατο. Θεοδώρητος Ἐπίσκοπος Κύρρος, Εἰς Την Πρωτην Των Βασιλειων Source:Migne PG 80.129a-b

Question 9 Why was it that the God of all appeared to Samuel while he was yet so young? 1 For the reproof of the high priest who was old the youth was worthy of the Divine appearance. For he was yet very young and so not able to receive the teaching of God. And quickly Heli, after the third calling, understanding that it might be God who was calling, spoke with sense, and supposing that it might be God who was calling, said: 'If he calls you, who has called, say: Speak, my Lord, because your servant is listening.' Even with this said, God did pass over the years of the old man, scorning him who had lived ninety eight years, who for forty two years had been honoured with the office of magistrate, for he was a judge and high priest, and He spoke to a little boy, by that teaching how much more adorned with virtue might be youth than old age. And though it is clear that Heli was adorned with right deeds, on account of the depravity of his sons he received the sentence of death. But his words did show his piety. For firstly he did not blush to ask a youth about what had been spoken to him by God. And then he even constrained him with oaths and curses, that the boy reveal all clearly to him. Then when he had learnt the full extent of it, he gave voice to praise: 'It is the Lord, who shall do what is pleasing before Him.' Then learning of the slaughter of his sons, the father and old man was not carried off by such bereavement, but when he learnt that the ark had been seized by the enemy, then he fell from his seat, slain by the grave grief of his soul, receiving the end of his life. Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Questions On The Books Of Kings 1 1 Kings 3.10-